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Despite a successful college teaching career, Noah Daniels has become depressed. He feels he’s leading a monochromatic life: love has eluded him. When he’s offered a chance to teach in London as part of an exchange program, he accepts, hoping a change of scenery will do him good. But once he’s there, his outlook on love and sexuality changes in ways he never expected.

Robert Callinan is Noah’s English counterpart in the program. The men exchange not only their jobs, but also their homes, and it is what Noah stumbles across while staying at Robert’s house that sends him on a journey of self-discovery—both mentally and physically. A journey that puts color back into his life… just not in the way he expected. When the exchange program ends, Noah has to go home, but he doesn’t know if he wants to return to the life he left behind.

Review by Rich
4.5 Hearts
This is exceeding well-written novel. What at first glance may appear to be simply a pedestrian story of man meets man, man gets man, man loses man and then both live happily ever after rises above the pedestrian plain to a very special, well plotted novel.
Each man learns something major about himself. Noah learns that he is not only gay but monogamous. Robert learns that sex without love and tenderness becomes empty and not fulfilling. It is well into the novel before both characters actually meet. They are both art professors switching professorships, Noah from Chicago and Robert from London. They switch homes as well and communicate by Skype, text and emails.
The strength of this novel is its densely plotted frame work focusing on the two backgrounds, similarity/differences, and family life.
This is a believable, well thought-out story offering characters without stereotypes. The resulting happy ending is not the least bit contrived; with Noah standing forthright for love over just sex and Robert deciding a man can change and is willing to prove the point.
Far from a love conquers all story, the author displays a flair for creating believable situations that do not strain belief. Highlu recommended.

Review of Heart Knot Mine

By Julie Hayes on Aug 10, 2014 05:08

Noah Daniels love life isto put it mildlyunsatisfactory. None of the women hes been dating really do it for him, but he doesnt know why. None of them strikes a spark inside of him. Whats the matter with him? His brother Mitch and his wife Miranda have sparkin spades. Noah wants what they have. Why cant he have it too?
When the opportunity arises for a job exchangehell go to London for a semester and teach art at central Saint Martens while his British counterpart takes his own position in ChicagoNoah decides to go for it. Maybe he just needs a change.
He settles into the other guyRobert Callinans flat, and becomes familiar with his new surroundings. He meets Roberts next door neighbor, Mrs. Higginbothama very friendly older lady who welcomes him with a casserole. Noah does some exploring of London in the week before hes due to start work, and he likes what he sees.
While settling into his new digs, Noah makes an interesting discoverysome homemade porn DVDsfeaturing Robert. Noah cant seem not to watchor his body to react. His inadvertent voyeurism starts him on a voyage of self-discovery hell never forget.
More than just a holy cow Im gay book, this is one mans discovery of who he really is, one that will take him to some very interesting places, especially as he finds himself increasingly drawn to the star of the DVDsthe man whose bed hes sleeping in.
But, as with most such journeys, there are ugly truths to be learned as well. I cried in places, laughed in othersand found a lot of heart in these pages. Most importantly, I felt.
I first read Lily Velden in her story, Hunter or Hunted, in the Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust anthology. I knew then she can write. This book more than confirms that.
Her style is classic and descriptive, her characters well-drawn. I look forward to reading the next book and see where Noah goes from here. Well done, Ms. Velden, well done!